Families urge authorities to rescue illegal gold miners in South Africa | DW News

Authorities in South Africa are involved in a weeks-long stand-off at a disused mine. Police have cut off food and water supplies, to force out hundreds of illegal miners searching for leftover gold. It's not clear whether the men are trapped - or refusing to come out and face arrest. DW’s Dianne Hawker reports from the abandoned mine and discusses the standoff with us.

#southafrica #gold #mining

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[governormadea]

If this happened in my own country I’d be in full support of the police.

[mashudutshivhula]

please report accurate news, police are allowing members of community to send food and water down to those Zama Zamas who are underground, and they opened another shaft for them to come out easily. Thats utterly incorrect what you are reporting and its bereft of proper journalism standards.

[MC-zrgc]

They're not trapped, they can come out whenever TF they want. Two choices: starve or be arrested, neither of these choices are preventing them from coming out.

[starkmad]

Whoever placed them there is responsible for them getting out

[NuanceWithNiki]

Guys please watch Dan Corder's take on this. It is more nuanced than you think. There are syndicates down there keeping them trapped.

[KAi_za_]

They REFUSE to come out!
Media can’t seem to report accurately on most things these days!

[ITISWHATITIS-xj]

How can they say its unsafe for police to go in, due to gas pipes?these guys are then using explosive down there, to break the rocks. S.A is always like a movie lol.

[philh]

Illegal mining causing crime? Or poverty leading to crime and mining?

[ITISWHATITIS-xj]

These guys is not trapped/they know now that they got the attention of the public/government and social media,
So for them, its like seeking food, water and meds to keep them boost to carry on with their illegal mining.
they rather prefer dying down there, than being arrested,

[elizeleroux]

How are they thinking? look at the big hole they don't care if a child falls in would they? They ruining the land I have no pity for them, all of

[ameyas]

Stay strong miners!....don't let the Govt get their grubby hands on your hard earned gold!

[epictraveller]

leave them use that money for your country not this illegal

[Thatsong-frnq]

Why are were not rescuing these trapped people?

[confidencekgothatso]

Why they want to arrest this people instate of creating jo for them, they will waste our tax that called money of state

[shysonofficial]

get them out of the hole first like, wtf

[fewcommentsonnews.]

WHY Wouldn't they Willing to leave the " chamber of mining by themselves, " they might could be detainned by the South African Authorities imediatly, or being jailled, in adding to they Would being considered held accountable by putting the Country within an International Scruptinny, consequently, Worsening the minning Situation under the human rights VIOLATIONS is suppose to it might would be happening.

[beerye]

Fix the economy and this goes away.
People got to eat.

[elizeleroux]

If I walk in lion den and I get eaten whose fault, they can plant and sell stuff or pray for God to help them, no excuse

[jeffransom]

Nice good to see the ANC is.making opportunities for employment after they freed south Africa.